Abstract:
Using a life course perspective, this literature review synthesizes research on women's underrepresentation in computing fields across four life stages: 1) pre-high schoo...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Using a life course perspective, this literature review synthesizes research on women's underrepresentation in computing fields across four life stages: 1) pre-high school; 2) high school; 3) college major choice and persistence; and 4) post-baccalaureate employment. Issues associated with access to, and use of, computing resources at the pre-high school and high school levels are associated with gender differences in interest and attitudes toward computing. At the college level, environmental context (classroom design, interactions with peers and role models, signals from stereotypical images) contribute to whether students will major in computing, whereas psychosocial factors (e.g., sense of belonging and self-efficacy) and departmental culture play a role in persistence in computing fields. As in other fields, issues associated with work-life conflict, occupational culture, and mentoring/networking opportunities play a role in women's participation in the computing workforce. Several initiatives and programs have been implemented to address women's underrepresentation in computing fields. While great strides have been made in making computing more accessible, the life course perspective highlights the importance of longitudinal studies in identifying students' pathways to and through computing fields, as well as how interventions across life stages may intersect or cumulate to generate trends in computing participation.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 60, Issue: 4, November 2017)
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- IEEE Keywords
- Computers ,
- Games ,
- Computer science ,
- Employment ,
- Bibliographies ,
- Context ,
- Focusing
- Index Terms
- Life Course Perspective ,
- Synthesis Of Literature ,
- Underrepresentation Of Women ,
- High School ,
- Gender Differences ,
- Gender Roles ,
- Life Stages ,
- Work Life ,
- School Level ,
- Psychosocial Factors ,
- Interesting Differences ,
- Differences In Attitudes ,
- High School Level ,
- Great Strides ,
- Stereotypical Images ,
- Work-life Conflict ,
- Occupational Culture ,
- Preschool ,
- Computer Science ,
- Field Of Engineering ,
- Female Students ,
- Proportion Of Female Students ,
- Participation Of Women ,
- Bureau Of Labor Statistics ,
- Male Students ,
- National Science Foundation ,
- Digital Divide ,
- Interest In The Field ,
- Middle School ,
- Female Scientists
- Author Keywords
Keywords assist with retrieval of results and provide a means to discovering other relevant content. Learn more.
- IEEE Keywords
- Computers ,
- Games ,
- Computer science ,
- Employment ,
- Bibliographies ,
- Context ,
- Focusing
- Index Terms
- Life Course Perspective ,
- Synthesis Of Literature ,
- Underrepresentation Of Women ,
- High School ,
- Gender Differences ,
- Gender Roles ,
- Life Stages ,
- Work Life ,
- School Level ,
- Psychosocial Factors ,
- Interesting Differences ,
- Differences In Attitudes ,
- High School Level ,
- Great Strides ,
- Stereotypical Images ,
- Work-life Conflict ,
- Occupational Culture ,
- Preschool ,
- Computer Science ,
- Field Of Engineering ,
- Female Students ,
- Proportion Of Female Students ,
- Participation Of Women ,
- Bureau Of Labor Statistics ,
- Male Students ,
- National Science Foundation ,
- Digital Divide ,
- Interest In The Field ,
- Middle School ,
- Female Scientists
- Author Keywords